Afnán (, "Branches") is a term in literature of the BaháüàFaith referring to maternal relatives of the Báb, and is used as a surname by their descendants.
The Báb's wife was named KhadÃÂjih-Bagum, who had two brothers, HajjàMÃÂrzá Abu'l-Qasim and HajjàMÃÂrzá Siyyid Hasan. The descendants of these two brothers-in-law of the Báb, along with the descendants of his maternal uncles are known as the Afnán. The Afnán are of the Sayyid class, i.e. claiming descent from the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
In the late 19th century the family established a large trading business based in Shiraz and Yazd in Iran, with offices in Beirut, Bombay, Hong Kong and ûIshqábád. They published some of the first Baháüàliterature from their printing press in Bombay.
Baháüàscriptures grant a special station to the members of the Afnán, indicating that BaháüÃÂs should treat them with particular respect and courtesy, but do not grant them any administrative or spiritual authority within the BaháüàFaith.